Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-04

tense hatred of the drudgery OF teaching,
she would not give thoughtto what others
might think, or say, but she must be sure,
quite sure, herself, then" but the day had
been so wearying. she was SO tired, she
must have time to think it all out. But
time shc was destined rot to have, for
scarcely had the echoes of the shout of the
last emancipated urchin died away in the
distance; when Mr.. Carlton came up to the
Imprinted pine desk, where the young
teacher sat with her head bowed upon her
hand.
Her face was SO pale, and she did not
look up and smile as she was wont to do;
her whole attitude was SO suggestive of
WEAKNESS, if not of despair, she was such
wee morsel of humanity, and he was so
strong and manly, that somehow, before
he we'll knew what he was saying, he was
telling her his passionate longing to take
her into his arms and shield her hence
forth from every discomfort.
She looked up then. with something of
the look the hunter sometimes sees in the
eyes of wounded doe, looked up, and
crushed the hope out Of his heart with
cold refusal.
Then came, for her, the slow agony of
living on, day after day, knowing that she
had in that one hour of weakness cast
aside all that made life worth living; of
Walking daily through the furnace of trial,
with the ghosts Of her dead hopes ever re-
proaching her with the cowardice that put
an end to their bright, but brief excellence.
So two years drifted by. and along the
thorny pathway that she trod Ellice Gray
learned priceless lessons of self-reliance
aud courage: learned TO be law unto
herself. and, once having chosen path
way, knowing it to he right. grew
strong to follow it steadfastly to the end,
though thousand tongues might censure.
Within month after his rejection Roy
left his affairs in the hands of his steward,
to whom lie gave power of attorney, and
went away to the city A year passed, and
the dishonest steward, turning everything
except the Carlton homestead into money,
gathered his booty and fed; and no one
knew Roy's address.
Ellice Gray knew nothing Of this. When
vacation came she had given up her school,
for she could not stay where everything
reminded her Of Roy. She was teaching
in distantvillage, when one morning the
posman brought her letter which proved
to be from former pupil in Shafton, Roy's
home. It told Of the loss of his property,
stated that he lad of late returned to his
home; that while in the city he had joined
volunteer corps of tiremen, and while in
the discharge of his duty had been struck
on the side of his head by fulling timber,
and carried away insensible. when be
revived" the letter went on to say, che
was blind. The physicians talked of
paralysis of the optic nerve, thought time,
or electric treatment, when he had some
what recovered from the shock, might be
beneficial, but" said the letter, "Mr. Carl
ton does not get better, he seems to have
lost all interest in life." Then the
writer went on to give the other
news OF the village, but Ellice did not read
it. Hastily she prepared for journey,
and when the next train left the station it
bore her i'll the direction of Shafton.
The rosy bushes chased each other over
her otherwise pale cheeks whenever she
thought of her Grand, but she did not
falter, even when she rang the bell at the
"Squire's" and was ushered, by the prim
housekeeper, into the empty parlor. Her
heart bea. unanimously as she heard the
slow, uncertain step come down the stairs,
and the hand grope for the knob of the
door. He came in and closed the door,
then stood moving his head from side to
side, as if looking for some one.
II beg pardon" he said at last, for Ellice
did not speak, "but does any one wait to
see me? am blind"
eyes, Roy" Ellice answered, in choked
voice, putting out her hand to lead him to
seat. 1t was the first time she had ever
called him by his given name, and she saw
the light fash over his face.
"Ellice, oh, my darling!" he exclaimed,
then he stammered, forgive me, Miss
Gray. that forgot for moment. 1t was
very kind of You to come"
II fear you will think the motive selfish,
when have given YOU my reasons for
coming" she replied, struggling bravely
for couposure MS she sat down near him.
Then. he train leaves i'll two hours, and |
must return, SO you will pardon me if am
somewhat abrupt in naming my errand?"
Certainly" he replied, courteously.
"Weli," said his visitor, somewhat
weakly, striving to gain time, now that the
decisive moment had come, "the fact is, 1
am thinking of getting married"
@Ellice," he said, brokenly, lit was cruel
to come here to tell me that. Did you
think had still any hopes that you cared
for me, that you should come here 10 kill
them with that announcement"
sNo," she replied, and then, as no other
words would come, sat staring helplessly
al biz pale faol. as he leaned against the